"I understand your moral objections to what the TVA does." He Who Remains stated. "And my methods are deceptive. But the mission, it never was. Without the me...without the...T-V-A...everything burns."

"Then what are you so afraid of?" Loki asked.

He Who Remains paused for a moment in hesitation before answering. "Me."

"And just who are you?" Sylvie asked, not failing to maintain the sass in her voice.

"Oh, I've been dubbed many names, by many people." He said. "A ruler, a conquerer. He Who Remains. A jerk. But it's not as simple as a name."

He Who Remains fiddled a bit with his Tempad before flicking a piece of material out of it. The material transformed into the image of a man.

"Eons ago, before the TVA, a Variant of myself lived on Earth in the 31st century. He was a scientist and he discovered that there were universes stacked on top of his own. At the same time, other versions of us were learning the same thing."

He Who Remains continued. "Naturally, they made contact. And for a while, there was peace. Narcissistic, self-congratulatory peace. "I love your shoes." "I love your hair." "Oh, man, nice nose." "Thanks, man." Et cetera. They shared technology and knowledge." The image shifted into two men at a table holding Reset Charges. "Using the best of their universes to improve the others. However..." He said, taking another chomp from his apple. "Not ever version of me was so...so pure of heart. To some of us new worlds meant only one thing: new lands to be conquered."

The image shifted to a man lifting a globe in one hand and a Time Stick in the other.

"The peace between realities..." He Who Remains imitated an explosion noise. "...erupted into all out war. Each Variant, fighting to preserve their universe and annihilate the others."

The image shifted to several Variants in combat with each other.

"This was almost the end, ladies and gentlemen, of everything and everyone."

"And then the Time Keepers came and saved us all." Sylvie said.

"A-a-a-a-..." He Who Remains sang while holding his hands in prayer position. "...-men....no." He chuckled. "No, this is where we diverge from the dogma. That first Variant encountered a creature. Created from all the tears in reality, capable of consuming time and space itself. A creature..." He Who Remains said, leaning in closer. "...you both know."

"Alioth." Loki answered.

"Bingo. I harnessed the beast's power and began experimenting on it." He said, adding more ferocity into his voice. "I weaponized Alioth and I ended...I ended the Multiversal War." Then softened his voice. The image transformed into a scientist surrounded by a single ring. "Once I isolated our timeline, all I had to do was manage the flow of time and prevent any further branches. Hence, the TVA. Hence..." He stood up, one step at a time onto his chair, then his desk. "...the Time Keepers and a highly efficent bureaucracy. Hence ages...and ages of cosmic harmony, hence..." He dropped down into a crouch with a smile. "...your welcome."

He Who Remains pressed a few buttons on his Tempad and the visual presentation dissolved.

"So you came to kill the devil right?" He asked with smirk as he dropped down from the table. "Well, guess what? I keep you safe. And if you think I'm evil, well just wait until you meet my Variants."

Sylvie and Loki looked at each other.

"Aaaaand that's the gambit!" He proclaimed. "Stifling order or cataclymic chaos. You may hate the dictator but..." He let out a puff of air. "...something far worse is going to fill that void if you depose of him. I've lived a million lifetimes. I've gone through every scenario. This is the only way. The TVA...it works."

"Or," Sylvie began. "You're a liar."

He Who Remains looked at Sylvie in amusement. "Or I'm a liar."

"So you just..." Loki began. "Continue to prune innocent timelines?

"Mn-mnm." He refused. "You two would."

Loki and Sylvie looked at him like he was crazy.

"There's two options." He stated. "One, you kill me and you don't just have one devil, you have an infinite amount. Or...you two. You two run the thing."

"You're lying." Loki said. "Why would you give up being in control?"

He Who Remains took in a deep and long sigh before speaking again. "Buddy...I'm tired. And I'm older. I'm older than I look. This game is for the young, the hungry. I've gone through alot of scenarios. Trying to find the right person to take this spot. And it turns out that person came in two." He let out another exhale. "But it's definitely you two. So no more lies. You kill me and the Sacred Timeline is completely exposed to complete Multiversal War. Or you take over the TVA as its benevolent rulers. Tell the workforce who they are and why they do what they do."

Sylvie nodded her head slowly at him. "You've treated real people's lives like it was some kind of game."

"It's not personal." He Who Remains said almost impatiently. "It's practical."

"It was personal to me." Sylvie said.

"Ughhhh." He Who Remains groaned. "Grow up! Grow up, Sylvie. Murderer. Hypocrite. We're all villains here. We've all done horrible, terrible, horrific things. But now, we...you," He corrected. "Have a chance to do them for a good reason."

A distant rumbling sounded. He Who Remains froze. His face turned from smiling to concerned. He looked around him, eyes darting up at the ceiling. His breathing became faster.

"We just crossed... the threshold." He uttered.

His grave look of concern slowly transformed into elation again as if he was suddenly sticken with catharsis. He produced a light chuckle then looked up at the ceiling again in wonder and excitement as the thunder boomed once again. Then he curiously picked up an eraser from the side of his desk and dropped it.

He turned forward again. "So, I fibbed. I fibbed earlier when I said that I know how everything's going to go. I know..." He chuckled. "...I knew...everything up to a certain point, and that point was about seven...eight, nine, ten, seconds ago."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Outside, the Timeline becan to splinter off, like the branches of a tree.

"But now I have no idea, no idea how the rest of this is going to go." He said. "I'm being candid."

"So that's it." Loki said. "That's it? This is what happens at the end of time? And you're just going to sit there with all that freedom and let us decide your fate?"

"Yeeeeesss." He Who Remains lingered and then again with more enthusiasm. "Yes! Yes! What's the worse that can happen? You either take over and my life's work continues or you plunge a blade into my chest and an infinite amount of me start another Multiversal War and I just...end up right back here anyways. Reincarnation, baby."

"No, it's just another lie." Sylvie said with confidence. "Another manipulation."

"Ohhhh...no lie." He Who Remains said, shaking his head. "No manipulation."

Thunder continued to rumble outside.

He Who Remains sighed before reaching for his Tempad and removing it from the strap. As it came off of his wrist the energy running through the pottery veins died out. "Wow. I love this. I love...all this honesty." He said placing the removed device onto the table in front of him. Feels like a fresh start."

Sylvie bolted up from her seat, blade raised. Loki rose up just as quick to restrain her. Immediately, she whipped around, holding the blade to his neck.

"What are you doing?" She demanded.

"Sylvie, hang on a moment..." Loki said. "Let's just talk about it."

"Or how about we finish what we started and kill him." She said pushing past him. Loki gripped her and dragged her back with his telekinesis. Sylvie reacted immediately, swinging her sword at him. He dodged it in time for her to pin his sword arm down from behind. Bringing his guard up he broke himself out of it and planted himself firmly between Sylvie and He Who Remains, who watched everything unfolding in front of him with exhilerated amusement.

"What if he's telling the truth?" Loki asked.

"So what?"

"I believe him."

"Believe what? That a bazillion boogiemen are going to show up if we give people free will? He's a liar, Loki."

"So am I. And I don't think he was lying. Not about that. Insane, yes. But maybe he was telling the truth."

"Better hurry." He Who Remains said. "Timeline's already branching."

"So what are you suggesting?" Sylvie asked impatiently.

"I suggest we think about it."

"And what exactly is there to think about?"

"Weren't you listening to what he was saying?" Loki said. "That's the gambit. Remove the dictator and what fills the void?"

Sylvie's eyes lit up with bewilderment. "Ahhh. I see. You want the throne."

"No. That's not it. No."

"I don't believe you."

"Sylvie, the universe is in the balance. Everything we know to be true. Everything. I know the TVA has hurt us both. But what if by taking him out, we risk unleashing something even worse. All I'm suggesting is we just take a minute to think about it. I promise you from my heart this isn't about a throne."

"What was I thinking trusting you? Has this whole thing been a con?"

"Really? That's what you think of me? After all this time? Sure. Why not?" Loki said with spite. "Evil Loki's master plan comes together. Well you never trusted me, did you? What was the point? Can't you see this is bigger than our experience?"

"Why aren't we seeing this the same way?"

"Because you can't trust." Loki said. "And I can't be trusted."

"Then I guess we're in a pickle."

"Sylvie, wait." Loki beseeched. "Wait!"

The ball had dropped. Sylvie slashed at Loki with her sword. He blocked it with his own. The two engaged each other. He Who Remains continued to watch from behind in amusement. Sylvie gained the edge, deflecting his sword then performed a drop kick leading into an energy blast, sending Loki flying back into the bookcase. Sylvie turned and began making her way towards He Who Remains.

Loki recovered using his telekinesis to pull the coffee table into her. She defended with another energy blast, the rebounding force of it causing her to drift backwards onto the ground. She was quick to recover but Loki took advantage of the window enough to emerge in front of him, conjuring Laevatein in reluctance to block an incoming blow. He continued to block her, slash for slash until she pinned him back to the desk.

"Sylvie." He uttered before pushing her back away from the desk. "Sylvie..."

The two's swords broke from the clash, each held at the side of the other's neck.

"Maybe he's lying!" Loki shouted. "Maybe he's not. The cost of getting this wrong are too great."

"Fine." Sylvie said, positioning his sword directly across her neck. "Kill me. Take your throne."

"No.." Loki said weakly.

Sylvie brought her foot up and kicked Loki away. Slashing from low guard she lead into a sweeping kick, then an aerial one. Loki dove over it then got to his feet. Sylvie threw another energy blast at him before rushing back to her target. Loki dissipated completely. Sylvie leaped into the air and arced her sword down towards He Who Remains.

Loki emerged in a glimmer of green light in front of the blade just before it reached it's target.

"Sylvie, stop, stop." He said tossing Laevatein to the ground. "Stop."

As the sword remained at his throat he slowly placed his hands on her arms and repeated the word again. "Stop."

Sylvie sniffled.

"I've been where you are." He said to her. "I've felt what you feel. Don't ask me how I know. All I know...is I don't want to hurt you. I don't want a throne. I just...want you to be okay."

Crying again, Sylvie dropped the sword then reached in closer and kissed him. As it lingered Loki found himself turned around to the other side.

Sylvie broke away from him. "But I'm not you."

Loki produced a look of confusion.

As the Time Door opened up behind him, Sylvie shot another energy blast at him, sending him through. At the other end of the portal, Loki fell through. He desperately tried to run back but the Time Door dissipated in an instant just before reaching it. Instead he found himself back in the Time Theater. The place where it all began. Back to the start.

In the Citadel of Time, Sylvie held He Who Remains's tempad in her hand, the veins glowing once more with activation. Sylvie turned to He Who Remains, the conflict in her eyes transforming into pure malice.

"Incredible." He Who Remains commented.

Sylvie summoned her sword to her hand and walked towards him. Using her telekinesis, she shoved the desk all the way to the other side of the room. He Who Remains leaped in his seat, laughing with anxious excitement.

"Aren't you going to beg for your life?"

"Um, could. Could."

Sylvie grabbed hold of him and plunged her machete into his chest. He grunted as it penetrated through him.

"See you soon." He Who Remains said with a wink as he expired.

Sylvie moved back several steps, then taking in a deep sigh, she collapsed onto the ground and burst into tears while outside of the window, the Timeline splintered and bloomed into a million branches.

***

"No turning back now." Mobius said to B-15 as the Timeline monitor scattered into a million branches.

"Who said anything about turning back." B-15 responded.

"For all time." Mobius said.

"Always." B-15 finished.

***

In the Time Theater, Loki sat on the steps alone facing forward. Frozen and with the threat of tears in his eyes. Closing his eyes, he looked down in shame.